Plant growing apparatus and method
A plant-growing apparatus has a plurality of rotatable plant-growing modules which can be moved between two positions, separated vertically or horizontally. Each module comprises a cylindrical structure for holding plant-growing containers in which the plants grow radially inwardly of the cylindrical structure toward a light source. The apparatus has module support means for supporting each module and rotating it in a substantially horizontal position. The apparatus has module moving means, for example sprocket driven chains, for conveying the modules between the two positions.
1. A method of growing plants comprising the steps of:
(a) placing a growing medium with plant material in a rotatable growing module comprising a cylindrical structure with a light source inside the cylindrical structure such that plants grow radially inwardly of said cylindrical structure toward the light source;
(b) illuminating the light source;
(c) rotating the cylindrical structure about the light source;
(d) moving the rotatable growing module along a path between two separated positions; and
(e) delivering water to the growing medium.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the two separated positions are a vertically higher position and a vertically lower position.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the two separated positions are two horizontally separated positions.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the path is a circuit extending between a plurality of positions that are both vertically and horizontally separated from each other.
5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the circuit is a closed circuit and the rotatable growing module is moved in a revolution around the circuit.
6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the rotatable growing module is one of a plurality of such modules, further comprising the step of moving the other such modules along said path.
7. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the circuit is a distance greater than the diameter of the cylindrical structure.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the rotatable growing module is one of a plurality of such modules, further comprising the step of moving the other such modules along said path.
9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the path is a distance greater than the diameter of the cylindrical structure.